USA: A ten-car train was produced at CRRC’s plant in Chicago and has been put into permanent operation on one of the city’s metro lines. In total, 400 metro cars are to be delivered by 2024 under a contract signed between CRRC and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in 2016 .
Deliveries began after the completion of operational testing of a ten-car prototype, which arrived in the city back in August 2020. Testing has taken place on all eight Chicago metro lines since October 2020 across a wide range of temperatures and operating conditions. From April 2021, tests began to be carried out with passengers on board.
Trials of 7000-series metro train prototype in April 2021. Source: Xinhua
The rolling stock was developed on the basis of the 3200-series and 5000-series metro cars, which are now running on the Orange and Brown Lines of Chicago metro. The 3200-series cars were produced in 1992-1994 by Morrison-Knudsen company, and the 5000-series cars – in 2009-2015 by Bombardier Transportation. A number of structural changes were made to the new rolling stock. In terms of traction system, the train is equipped with a Siemens three-phase AC asynchronous drive, which is said to provide greater energy efficiency, smoother acceleration, lower noise levels, and lower operating costs than motors of the previous series. The train can accelerate up to 110 km/h while its operating speed is 89 km/h.
The suspension system has been modernized. It not only gives the train a smooth ride, but also opens up the possibility of its operation on different lines with various platform heights due to ultrasonic sensors that allow determining the height of the platform and automatically adjusting the floor height to it. The manufacturer decided to integrate this technology as the 7000-series cars should be put into operation on all lines of the Chicago metro.
Also, in terms of technology, the train is equipped with laser sensors installed above the entrance doors, which count the number of passengers entering and exiting the train. This should allow CTA to adjust train schedules by monitoring the current passenger flow on the lines in real time.
As for the exterior, the main distinguishing feature of the 7000-series is the bright blue color of the end parts and the new distribution of lighting devices and headlights on the body. As for the interior, the seating arrangement has been changed. In particular, some seats have been placed both along and across the cabin to improve ergonomics and increase legroom. Each car is equipped with 38 seats, while the 3200-series car has 39 seats.
Interior of 7000-series metro train. Source: Xinhua
The new vehicles are being manufactured by CRRC under a firm part of the CTA order for 400 metro cars. The cost of one car is about $1.5 mln USD. The order also includes an option for other 446 cars, in which case the total value of the contract could reach $1.3 bln USD. However, its implementation is doubtful due to the prohibition in the US on state funding for the purchase of rolling stock from Chinese manufacturers since 2020. It is noted that the company will not be able to receive new orders in the country, but at the same time this restriction should not affect the current contract with CTA.
As to the US legislation, the level of rolling stock localization for domestic market deliveries should be 69%. Therefore, CRRC has invested $100 mln USD to set up its own production site in the country and $7.2 mln USD to train staff. The Chicago plant is now said to employ about 200 people. CRRC carries out the final assembly of the metro cars at this site, the components for which are being supplied by 24 companies, 19 of them are based in the USA. For example, the brake system for the train is manufactured by Wabtec. At the same time, the bodies are produced in China and transported by ship to the ports of Los Angeles and Houston, and then delivered by truck to Chicago.
